Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance Knowledge among Female Students in a Hostel Environment: A Concurrent Urine Culture Analysis

Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem that is growing rapidly around the world due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This issue threatens global health, and it is critical to assess awareness to confront the spread of antibiotic resistance. Undergraduate education can influence practices, so it is important to determine students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour. The study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, behaviour, and use of antibiotic resistance among female hostel students in a Nigerian university. The survey revealed that while most respondents were familiar with "antibiotic resistance," only 40.7% expressed confidence in their understanding of the concept. The study identified a correlation between the student's year of study and their knowledge of antibiotic resistance, indicating that students in higher study levels possessed greater knowledge than those in lower levels (chi-square = p < 0.10). The study also found that Streptococcus spp was the most common gram-positive bacteria isolated, while Escherichia coli was the most common gram-negative bacteria isolated. Ciprofloxacin was the most effective for Escherichia coli, while Ampiclox had high resistance for gram-positive isolates, and Augmentin had high resistance for gram-negative isolates. Educational systems should consider including awareness campaigns on antibiotic resistance as part of community service courses. This would help to educate students and the public about the potential impact of antibiotic resistance on antibiotic usage. Additionally, educators should develop a general course covering important health issues to benefit all students.